Zusammen mit unserem langjährigen Kooperationspartner, der Deutschen Europaschule Manila, freuten wir uns sehr über die Teilnahme an einem Pilot-Mikroplastik-Workshop für Grundschulkinder am 7. November 2023.

Der Besuch fand am CCP-Terminal statt, wo der Circular Explorer in zwei Versuchsstationen integriert wurde. Diese Stationen boten verschiedene wissenschaftliche Aktivitäten und beschäftigten sich insbesondere mit den Ursachen und Auswirkungen von Umweltverschmutzung durch Mikroplastik.

Die Kinder waren an Bord des Circular Explorers, um Wasserproben zu entnehmen. Sie sammelten Wasserproben, indem sie Eimer, die an einem Seil befestigt waren, über Bord warfen und wieder hochzogen. Anschließend bauten sie einen Wasserfilter, gefüllt mit Steinen, Kies, Baumwolle und einem Mikrofilter, um Veränderungen des Wassers nach der Filtration zu beobachten. Das gefilterte Wasser wurde unter dem Mikroskop untersucht, um die Größe des Mikroplastiks zu ermitteln.

In der zweiten Station des Circular Explorers trugen die Kinder Handschuhe und versuchten, Meeresmüll nach Arten zu sortieren. Dabei lernten sie, dass verschiedene Arten von Kunststoffen im Müll zu finden sind.

Während sie an Bord unterwegs waren, sammelten sie Plastikflaschen und Trinkhalme aus dem Müll und diskutierten darüber. Immer wenn sie eine Actionfigur, ein Spielzeug oder einen Lippenstift im Müll fanden, tauschten sie miteinander freudige Blicke aus.

Der Tag endete nach den letzten Experimenten, die zeigten, wie weit Mikroplastik im täglichen Leben verbreitet ist, da Kosmetika und die eigene Kleidung unter die Linse des Mikroskops fielen.

Insgesamt war dieses erste Lernerlebnis eine großartige Übung und eine praktische Aktivität, um den Kindern zu zeigen, dass das Aufräumen der Umwelt sowohl unterhaltsam als auch lehrreich sein kann. Trotz des langen Tages und der Hitze hatten die Kinder immer noch die Energie, sich herzlich zu verabschieden, sich bei der Kamera und der Crew zu bedanken, die ihnen einen so schönen Tag ermöglicht hatten.

Wir danken allen Kindern von Herzen sowie unseren Partnern der Deutschen Europaschule Manila und hoffen, dass wir diese großartige Aktivität wiederholen können!

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Lost but can’t be neglected: Huge quantities of small microplastics hide in the South China Sea,

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 633, 15
August 2018, Pages 1206-1216, ISSN 0048-9697,

Abstract:

Large quantities of microplastics with small particle sizes were found
in the South China Sea (SCS). The abundances of microplastics in
seawater were 0.045 ± 0.093and 2569 ± 1770 particles/m3 according to the
bongo net and pumping sampling methods, respectively. Smaller-size
fractions (size < 0.3 mm) contributed 92% of the number of microplastics
to the total load. Continental slope is the largest reservoir of
microplastics with an inventory of 295 tons. 21 polymer types were found
in the samples using the micro Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
(FTIR), among which alkyds (22.5%) and polycaprolactone (PCL) (20.9%)
accounted for almost half of the total polymer content. Lighter plastics
would not only concentrate upon the coastal area, being more likely to
drift further into open seas with ocean currents. The distribution
characteristics showed that it was mainly controlled by terrestrial
input of the Pearl River. This study, as the first report from SCS on
microplastics in water for its distribution and influence factors,
provided impetus for further research on the transportation fate and the
behavior of this emerging pollutant from coastal zone to the open
oceans.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Optkv-LRAILdqPJ48-dE9f_mHc4TXMhL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.197.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718309562)

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Organic fertilizer as a vehicle for the entry of microplastic into the environment

Science Advances  04 Apr 2018:
Vol. 4, no. 4, eaap8060
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aap8060

Abstract:

The contamination of the environment with microplastic, defined as
particles smaller than 5 mm, has emerged as a global challenge because
it may pose risks to biota and public health. Current research focuses
predominantly on aquatic systems, whereas comparatively little is known
regarding the sources, pathways, and possible accumulation of plastic
particles in terrestrial ecosystems. We investigated the potential of
organic fertilizers from biowaste fermentation and composting as an
entry path for microplastic particles into the environment. Particles
were classified by size and identified by attenuated total
reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All fertilizer
samples from plants converting biowaste contained plastic particles, but
amounts differed significantly with substrate pretreatment, plant, and
waste (for example, household versus commerce) type. In contrast,
digestates from agricultural energy crop digesters tested for comparison
contained only isolated particles, if any. Among the most abundant
synthetic polymers observed were those used for common consumer
products. Our results indicate that depending on pretreatment, organic
fertilizers from biowaste fermentation and composting, as applied in
agriculture and gardening worldwide, are a neglected source of
microplastic in the environment.

http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/4/eaap8060.full.pdf

https://drive.google.com/open?id=14h9LP_WRXvQ4KpiJF4-NulGJPRj0bObv
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/4/eaap8060

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Alice K. Forrest & Mark Hindell (2018) Ingestion of plastic by fish
destined for human consumption in remote South Pacific Islands,
Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs, DOI:
10.1080/18366503.2018.1460945

ABSTRACT:

Plastic marine debris is increasingly recognised as one of the greatest
threats to global oceans, and the humans who depend on them. This study
documents plastic ingestion in 24 species caught or sold for human
consumption in the South Pacific. Fish were collected from local
fishermen and markets in remote locations, including French Polynesia,
Lord Howe Island and Henderson Island (Pitcairn group). Gastrointestinal
tracts of 126 fish were visually examined and plastic was found in 7.9%
of individual fish and 25% of species. The plastics were mostly
microplastics (fragments, nurdles and rope). There was no significant
difference in plastic ingestion in relation to feeding style, length,
region or species. This is concerning as plastic appears to be
widespread across species, lifestyles and habitats. This is the first
report of plastic in South Pacific fish, raising concerns about the
transfer of pollutants in a region that is largely oceanic and heavily
dependent on seafood. The remote locations of the study also provide
evidence of the widespread nature of this issue.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dCwimvEQ-SkMwPnOUn2f-KhYqCHQjStT
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18366503.2018.1460945

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Abstract:

The need for better microplastic removal from wastewater streams is
clear, to prevent potential harm the microplastic may cause to the
marine life. This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of
electrocoagulation (EC), a well-known and established process, in the
unexplored context of microplastic removal from wastewater streams. This
premise was investigated using artificial wastewater containing
polyethylene microbeads of different concentrations. The wastewater was
then tested in a 1 L stirred-tank batch reactor. The effects of the
wastewater characteristics (initial pH, NaCl concentration, and current
density) on removal efficiency were studied. Microbead removal
efficiencies in excess of 90% were observed in all experiments, thus
suggesting that EC is an effective method of removing microplastic
contaminants from wastewater streams. Electrocoagulation was found to be
effective with removal efficiencies in excess of 90%, over pH values
ranging from 3 to 10. The optimum removal efficiency of 99.24% was found
at a pH of 7.5. An economic evaluation of the reactor operating costs
revealed that the optimum NaCl concentration in the reactor is between 0
and 2 g/L, mainly due to the reduced energy requirements linked to
higher water conductivity. In regard to the current density, the
specific mass removal rate (kg/kWh) was the highest for the lowest
tested current density of 11 A/m2, indicating that low current density
is more energy efficient for microbead removal.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.7b02037

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a2TCzCt3SU3AZYZo6WA4v8VLp1K1LeVp

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Removal of Microbeads from Wastewater Using Electrocoagulation

ACS Omega, 2018, 3 (3), pp 3357–3364
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b02037
Publication Date (Web): March 20, 2018

Abstract

The need for better microplastic removal from wastewater streams is
clear, to prevent potential harm the microplastic may cause to the
marine life.
This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of electrocoagulation (EC),
a well-known and established process, in the unexplored context of microplastic
removal from wastewater streams.
This premise was investigated using artificial wastewater containing
polyethylene microbeads of different concentrations. The wastewater was
then tested in a 1 L stirred-tank batch reactor. The effects of the
wastewater characteristics (initial pH, NaCl concentration, and current
density) on removal efficiency were studied. Microbead removal
efficiencies in excess of 90% were observed in all experiments, thus
suggesting that EC is an effective method of removing microplastic
contaminants from wastewater streams. Electrocoagulation was found to be
effective with removal efficiencies in excess of 90%, over pH values
ranging from 3 to 10. The optimum removal efficiency of 99.24% was found
at a pH of 7.5. An economic evaluation of the reactor operating costs
revealed that the optimum NaCl concentration in the reactor is between 0
and 2 g/L, mainly due to the reduced energy requirements linked to
higher water conductivity. In regard to the current density, the
specific mass removal rate (kg/kWh) was the highest for the lowest
tested current density of 11 A/m2, indicating that low current density
is more energy efficient for microbead removal.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.7b02037

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a2TCzCt3SU3AZYZo6WA4v8VLp1K1LeVp

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Characterization of microplastic litter in the gastrointestinal tract of Solea solea from the Adriatic Sea,

Environmental Pollution,
Volume 234,
2018,
Pages 943-952,
ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:

Micro-plastic particles in the world’s oceans represent a
serious threat to both human health and marine ecosystems. Once released
into the aquatic environment plastic litter is broken down to smaller
pieces through photo-degradation and the physical actions of waves,
wind, etc.
The resulting particles may become so small that they are
readily taken up by fish, crustaceans and mollusks. There is mounting
evidence for the uptake of plastic particles by marine organisms that
form part of the human food chain and this is driving urgent calls for
further and deeper investigations into this pollution issue.
The present study aimed at investigating for the first time the occurrence, amount,
typology of microplastic litter in the gastrointestinal tract of Solea
solea and its spatial distribution in the northern and central Adriatic
Sea. This benthic flatfish was selected as it is a species of high
commercial interest within the FAO GFCM (General Fisheries Commission
for the Mediterranean) area 37 (Mediterranean and Black Sea) where
around 15% of the overall global Solea solea production originates. The
digestive tract contents of 533 individuals collected in fall during
2014 and 2015 from 60 sampling sites were examined for microplastics.
These were recorded in 95% of sampled fish, with more than one
microplastic item found in around 80% of the examined specimens.

The most commonly found polymers were polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene,
polyethylene, polyester, and polyamide, 72% as fragments and 28% as
fibers. The mean number of ingested microplastics was 1.73 ± 0.05 items
per fish in 2014 and 1.64 ± 0.1 in 2015. PVC and PA showed the highest
densities in the northern Adriatic Sea, both inshore and off-shore while
PE, PP and PET were more concentrated in coastal areas with the highest
values offshore from the port of Rimini.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ociS8dweJEPr1ndmfqqSC9bYJsYssByD
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.038.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117332062)

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Assessment tools for microplastics and natural fibres ingested by fish in an urbanised estuary,

Environmental Pollution,
Volume 234,
2018,
Pages 552-561,
ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:
Microplastics and fibres occur in high concentrations along urban coastlines, but the occurrence of microplastic ingestion by fishes in these areas requires further investigation. Herein, the ingestion of debris (i.e., synthetic and natural fibres and synthetic fragments of various polymer types) by three benthic-foraging fish species
Acanthopagrus australis (yellowfin bream), Mugil cephalus (sea mullet) and Gerres subfasciatus (silverbiddy) in Sydney Harbour, Australia has been quantified and chemically speciated by vibrational spectroscopy to
identify the polymer type.
Ingested debris were quantified using gut content analysis, and identified using attenuated total reflectance
Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Raman microspectroscopies in combination with principal component analysis (PCA).
The occurrence of debris ingestion at the time of sampling ranged from 21 to 64% for the three species, and the debris number ranged from 0.2 to 4.6 items per fish for the different species, with ∼53% of debris being microplastic.

There was a significant difference in the amount of debris ingested among species; however, there was no difference among species when debris counts were standardised to fish weight or gut content weight, indicating that these species ingest a similar concentration of debris relative to their ingestion rate of other material.
ATR-FTIR microspectroscopy successfully identified 72% of debris. Raman spectroscopy contributed an additional 1% of successful identification. In addition, PCA was used to non-subjectively classify the ATR-FTIR spectra resulting in the identification of an additional 9% of the debris.
The most common microplastics found were polyester (PET), acrylic-polyester blend, and rayon (semi-synthetic) fibres. The potential of using Raman microspectroscopy for debris identification was investigated and provided additional information about the nature of the debris as well as the presence of specific dyes (and hence potential
toxicity).

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1AaoklgcSs8IAm6fes9DJmky6e2jMH2qL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.085.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117320456)

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The effects of microplastic on freshwater Hydra attenuata feeding, morphology & reproduction,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 234, 2018, Pages 487-494, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:

Microplastic pollution has been a growing concern in the aquatic environment for several years. The abundance of microplastics in the environment has invariably led them to interact with a variety of different aquatic species. The small size of microplastics may make them bioavailable to a great range of species however, the impact this may
have is not fully understood. Much of the research on microplastic pollution has focused on the marine environment and species with little research undertaken in freshwater.

Here we examine the effect of microplastics on the freshwater cnidarian, Hydra attenuata. This study also describes the development and use of a bioassay to investigate the impact of microplastic on freshwater organisms. Hydra attenuata play a vital role in the planktonic make up of slow moving freshwater bodies which they inhabit and are sensitive environmental indicators. Hydra attenuata were exposed to polyethylene flakes (<400 ìm) extracted from
facewash at different concentrations (Control, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 g mL−1). The ecologically relevant endpoint of feeding was measured by determining the amount of prey consumed (Artemia salina) after 30 and 60 min. The amount of microplastics ingested was also recorded at 30 min and 60 min. After which Hydra attenuata were transferred to clean media and observed after 3, 24, 48 & 96 h with changes in their morphology and
reproduction (Hydranth numbers) recorded. The results of this study show that Hydra attenuata are capable of ingesting microplastics, with several individuals completely filling their gastric cavities. Significant reductions in feeding rates were observed after 30 min in 0.02 & 0.08 g mL−1 and after 60 min in 0.04 & 0.08 g mL−1 exposures.
Exposure to the microplastics caused significant changes to the morphology of Hydra attenuata, however these changes were non-lethal.
This study demonstrates that freshwater Hydra attenuata is capable of ingesting microplastics and that microplastic can significantly impact the feeding of freshwater organisms.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1b6Nag9SUVuO3h7XH6vg4DFGVGeMsebGB
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.029.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117303858)

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Microplastics in freshwater river sediments in Shanghai, China: A case study of risk assessment in mega-cities,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 234, 2018, Pages 448-456, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:

Microplastics, which are plastic debris with a particle diameter of less than 5 mm, have attracted growing attention in recent years. Its widespread distributions in a variety of habitats have urged scientists to understand deeper regarding their potential impact on the marine living resources.
Most studies on microplastics hitherto are focused on the marine environment, and research on risk assessment
methodology is still limited. To understand the distribution of microplastics in urban rivers, this study investigated river sediments in Shanghai, the largest urban area in China.
Seven sites were sampled to ensure maximum coverage of the city’s central districts, and a tidal flat was also included to compare with river samples. Density separation, microscopic inspection and μ-FT-IR analysis were conducted to analyze the characteristics of microplastics and the type of polymers.
The average abundance of microplastics in six river sediment samples was 802 items per kilogram of dry weight. The abundance in rivers was one to two orders of magnitude higher than in the tidal flat. White microplastic spheres were most commonly distributed in river sediments. Seven types of microplastics were identified, of which
polypropylene was the most prevailing polymers presented.
The study then conducted risk assessment of microplastics in sediments based on the observed results, and proposed a framework of environmental risk assessment. After reviewing waste disposal related legislation and
regulations in China, this study conclude that in situ data and legitimate estimations should be incorporated as part of the practice when developing environmental policies aiming to tackle microplastic pollution.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1KQy0_3mV4Bi0ymswMoWZlEvJXpycyjAy
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.034.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117332797)

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